Evolution
Evolution or to evolve means to change. Organisms carry information in DNA, DNA is the blueprint for traits in an organism. DNA is in all cells as it replicates. But as they replicate sometimes mistakes are made, these are called mutations. If a mutation happens in a sex cell it is then passed on to off spring. If the mutation is good it might then over time change the organism for the better. But if the mutation is a bad mutation it could change the organism for the worse.
Animals Related to the Zebra
Zebras are closely related to horses and donkeys. They are built for speed and long distance migrations. All of their teeth are adapted for grazing.They have found fossils of the Dinohippus which is believed to be the closest related organism to Equus. Equus is the genus that includes the horse, donkey and the zebra. The fossils date back to about 13-15 million years ago. There is also the quagga zebra which went extinct. It was a type of zebra but went extinct in about 1883.
The Donohippus
This is what we think the dinohippus might have looked like. You can see the stripes on its legs and on its face like a zebras stripes.
How it changed over time
Zebras have evolved so that their stripes do good for them. They used to suffer from horseflies coming and giving them diseases. But with their stripes it confuses the flies and they do not get attracted to the zebras. Also the stripes on the zebra also confuses its predators at times.